x
Breaking News
More () »

Mikaela Shiffrin fails to medal in slalom at 2018 Winter Olympics

A day after winning gold in the giant slalom, Shiffrin could not rally from her first run and finished off the podium.
Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States reacts at the finish during the Ladies' Slalom Alpine Skiing at Yongpyong Alpine Centre on February 16, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.

History was denied in the slalom Friday at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

American Mikaela Shiffrin, who became the youngest athlete to win gold in the slalom at the 2014 Games at age 18, failed at her attempt to become the first slalom repeat gold winner in Olympics history.

And along the way she failed to even medal.

A day after winning gold in the giant slalom, Shiffrin could not rally from a poor -- for her -- first run and finished off the podium. She was fourth.

She is the World Cup leader this season in the slalom.

Before that first run, which left her in fourth position, Shiffrin threw up. But it wasn't because of nerves she told NBC when asked about it.

"It almost felt like a virus, less about nerves," she said. "We will see. I’m not super far off. It’s nice to have that first round out of the way."

Fourth to race in the first run Friday, Shiffrin covered the slalom course in 49.37. The combined times determine the winner at Yongpyong Alpine Centre.

She suggested her disappointing first run could have stemmed in part from fatigue. She said she’d been trying to get to sleep each night by 8:30 p.m., but that the evening medal ceremony for the giant slalom kept her up until about 10 p.m. Thursday.

“It was certainly not normal preparation, but I also knew that going to these Olympics, that it’s not normal races, it’s not normal preparation,” she said as she talked to reporters near the finish area. “I’m not super psyched about it. I got through the finish. I’m not that far off.

“I could be a lot cleaner for the second run, so that’s my goal."

Shiffrin, 22, entered the slalom competition as a heavy favorite in the field of 78 competitors. In addition to winning the Olympic gold four years ago, she is No. 1 in World Cup slalom rankings and has won the World Cup title in the event four of the past five seasons.

While Shiffrin has said she’s staying focused, projecting her potential medial haul has become a tantalizing exercise. Though she has decided against competing in the Super G, she’ll have two more chances to pick up medals after Friday — Wednesday in the downhill and next Friday in the combined.

"Every single day is a new day and my only job here is to put out my best effort,” she said Thursday after winning the gold medal. “But going into this Olympics, I thought yeah, I could come away with multiple medals. I could also walk away with nothing."

Before You Leave, Check This Out